Space for Cycling draft motion

Space for Cycling draft motion

Getting your council to pass a motion to support Space for Cycling can be a highly effective way of getting some committed funding for cycling and some infrastructure on the ground.

Below is a draft motion that you can ask a councillor to submit to the council for consideration. This has been used to good effect in local authorities such as Cheshire East, Manchester City and Brighton & Hove. The sidebar has some tips on how to get it passed, including links to other briefings. A pdf version is available to download at the bottom.

Motion

"This Council aims to protect residents and visitors from road danger, air and noise pollution and improve the health, economy and wellbeing of local communities. This council recognises that creating a public environment that encourages cycling and walking is a low cost and highly effective way of achieving these aims and should therefore invest in changing patterns of travel towards walking and cycling.

This Council recognises Cycling UK’s Space for Cycling campaign and 20’s Plenty for Us default 20mph limits campaign which are supported by [local group name/petition etc] This council will join the 60+ other authorities that have already implemented wide-area 20mph.

In order to progress Space for Cycling, this Council will plan a costed network of safe, accessible and direct routes that link places people need to get to. It will adopt a policy of 'cycle proofing', whereby cycle facilities will be installed alongside any highway works taking place. It will bid for funding from the Department for Transport and other relevent sources to build the infrastructure required and allocate x% (suggested minimum 5%) of all local transport funds per year ongoing towards active travel (cycling and walking). This will progressively increase by y% per year, with an ambition of reaching £20 per person per year as a combination of local and national contributions. It will consider how best and most cost effectively, including seeking a range of funding sources and agencies, to implement a policy for restricted roads to be set to 20mph unless decided otherwise, as the foundation for active travel".

LCWIPs are maps of strategic cycling and walking routes. Depending on the needs of the local authority, either one area-wide LCWIP or several smaller LCWIPs can be produced. There is comprehensive guidance for producing LCWIP(s) available from the DfT.

While most funding will come from central Government sources, the motion defines "All local transport funds" as not just the local transport budget but also any revenue raised through speeding and parking fines.

The motion suggests an increase of y% per year because for the council to truly realise the benefits of cycling, serious and sustained investment is essential. The £20 per head per year target is in line with the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group’s Get Britain Cycling report.

The motion also commits the council to plan an entire network and to allocate a meaningful budget for a sustained period of time to ensure the network can be built to a high standard.

Give both the motion and the explanatory text to any councillors interested in tabling this motion.

Tips

Only councillors can submit motions for debate at council. You will need to find a sympathetic councillor to take this forward - ideally from the ruling party.

If/when you get this motion to a council meeting, be aware that parties normally vote in blocs. Speak to party group leaders to get parties as a whole to vote in favour of your motion.

You may find that councillors are more amenable to your proposals if you can demonstrate some public support for them. Some simple things like having a group behind you or a petition/survey that show local resident support can go a long way.

Further guides

We have a series of guides that will help you get this motion passed by your local authority: